Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the
world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to
over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a
wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history,
humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced
features available, you will need to register first. Registration is
absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

First off all its not relevant but in the spirit of I have some good news I am an Auntie again. Chloe was born 4 am Sat Morning coming in at a healthy 9 pounds 1. She is now a little sister to 2-year-old Josh!

Excellent. Another Child to corrupt when she is a little bit older. *Insert evil giggle here*

So the points of this post then. Training with beginners. Like it or not, at some point it is inevitable that you will train with a beginner. At least that is the way my organisation works.

Now I have two feet firmly planted in the camp of actually liking it a lot. For I find they can actually teach me something. If they are the type that ask questions such as "Where does that hand go?" or "How do I get my foot there?" it really makes me look at my own techniques so I can figure out how to explain it. Some day I will actually figure out how to explain without confusing them, I do not see being an instructor in my future!

It also keeps me on my toes as I find that you have to make sure you really are doing the technique properly. I would prefer that they do ask the questions, rather than going their own way and getting it dangerously wrong. I can see the value of trying to figure it out yourself to but I guess everyone has his or her own preferences.

As a side note, is it just me, but is it the people who ask questions and really take on board the answers are the people who tend to stay with the class longer. In addition, IME, it is generally the males who
...More

First entry in this blog, lets hope I can keep it succinct and to the point. As I do tend to waffle on, (must be because I am still in student mode.)

Has it really been a year (and oh okay a day) since I stumbled into my local dojo wondering what the he double toothpicks I had let myself in for? It really does not seem that long in some regards and much longer in others.

Looking back though, it is amazing how far I have come. When I first stepped into the dojo, I had just come through a time when a long walk of a high building seemed like a good idea and it seemed like nothing was going right in my life. I was unfit and the thought of getting myself co-ordinated enough to be able to do this strange new activity was laughable. And that was before I saw what everyone else was doing and begin thinking, "Oh Man I will never be able to do that."

Thank whichever person is appropriate I have changed. Not only in my mental state but co-ordination to. (Although those who have encounted me may disagree slightly with that. Another goal for the year, stop spilling other peoples blood!) And finally figuring out that actually I can do it and more.

Sure its not been easy but if it was I would have been incredibly surprised. But this last year has been pretty darn good. Not always easy, not without its ups and downs, (still far to many downs for my liking but that's life eh!)